The Irish standard., 1887-05-21
MISLEADING PICTURES.

MISLEADING PICTURES.
Western Farms as Represented BY Artists
Who Have No idea of Rural Life.
In their endeavors to make farm life
attractive it is evident that many writ
ers and artists have overdone the busi-
ness. Especially is this the case with
the managers of some rural papers
published away out on the frontier.
One Of them presents a gorgeous head
for his journal, supposed to represent
a farm, stable and farmhouse in the
distant northwest. The farm is made
to represent a public park or the
grounds surrounding some royal place
in continental Europe. There are
hedges Of hawthorn, arches covered
with twining roses, bronze and marble
fountains, walks ornamented with rare
flowers, and driveways covered with
asphalt pavement like the boulevards
of Paris. There are also artificial
ponds containing miniature islands
and supplied with swans and other
ornamental water~fowls. Near these
lakes are arbors and seats shaded
by dropping vines. Boats fashioned
and equipped like Venetian gondolas or
those employed to convey Queen
Cleopatra on the river Nile are moored
OF the shore at the foot Of q fight Of
stone steps. T. massive gateway, with
lodge near it, seems to invite the
passing stranger to enjoy the hos
pitality Of the lordly owner OF the fine
estate. At conspicuous. places along
the main drive are pieces of statuary.
In front OF the house are numerous
large vases Of antique pattern filed
with rare Towering plants.
The house sis just too pretty for any
thing Tt does not represent any par
ticular style Of ancient medieval or
modern architecture, but presents the
various kinds OF ornamentation em-
ployed in all Of them. Its chimneys
ara quite too beautiful to be ever
BACKED with the smoke rising from
fires OF soft coal. The cornices are as
lovely as silken drapery. The veran.
das, porticos and balconies are of ex,
quisite design and the most elegant
finish. On a terraced lawn III front Of
the mansion peaeocks strut, and noble
masti1fs play the part Of
guards and sentinels. The i1,'
terror OF one Of the apart
ments of this farm house-presumbl
Che wing-roonn-is shown. Prob
ably the design is not original. Most
likely it was copied from an illustra-
ton of the state room of some royal
palace at the time when Kings ruled
by divine right. Still il has some
modern improvements unknown to the
age of chivalry. 1t is lighted by elec-
tricity, aud the floor is covered with an
Administer carpet. 1t also contains a
grand upright piano instead of q harp.
The walls. ara hung with the proti,1e-
ton of both the old and the new mas
ters. The sunlight enters the room
through windows Of cathedral glass.
The female occupants of the room are
living, moving, walking fashion-plates.
Ii is evident that they toll not. neither
do they spin;'' and it is equally evil
dent that servants of various degrees
come at THEN cali.
The enterprising manufacturers o.
agricultural implements are not much
behind the artists who illustrate rural
journals in presenting attractive pict'
ures. The man who drives a
pair of matched horses before
what Arte,nus Ward called "a
self-adjusting, self-gathering self.
discharging, self-elevating, selt-de-
pressing and self-righteous hay-rake'
is generally dressed like young gentle.
men of fashion after they have made
their toilet with view OF attending g
ball or opera. Many have admired
the picture Of maiden, dressed as
we may fancy the Queen of Sheba was
when she presented herself before
King Solomon, who is drawing water
from we'll by the use of a. new-fan.
gled pump. The girl who turns the
box-churn, warranted ''to make butter
GOMEZ from the most obstinate cream
in nine minutes and half by the
French clock on the marble mantel, is
clad like princess who is waiting to
receive her guests on the occasion of a
birthday festival. All the young la.
dies who are represented as using the
new chemical erasive soap, the never
falling yeast cakes and the revolving
huter are not only handsome enough
to take their places among profession
al beauties, but to appear to the best
advantage in displaying the latest
Paris fashions in dress and jewelry.
It is no great marvel that many city
people who look on these pictures with
admiring eyes desire to leave their
humble homes and poor surroundings
and ego VEST and engage in farm
ing. But it is sad to think that they
will find SO great difference between
the ideal and real. To prevent the oc-
currence of disappointment in the fu-
ture, it would be an act of mercy on
the part of the artists of rural life il
they should copy nature little more
truthfully and not follow the lead of